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Hillary Clinton refuses to say whether there is an Individual Right to Self Defense

6 Jun , 2016

Transcript

Stephanopoulos: Let’s talk about the Second Amendment. As you know, Donald Trump has also been out on the stump, talking about the Second Amendment, saying you want to abolish the Second Amendment.

I know you reject that. But I — but I want to ask you a specific question.

Do you believe that an individual’s right to bear arms is a constitutional right, that it’s not linked to service in a militia?

Clinton: I think that for most of our history, there was a nuanced reading of the Second Amendment until the decision by the late Justice Scalia and there was no argument until then that localities and states and the federal government had a right, as we do with every amendment, to impose reasonable regulation.

So I believe we can have common sense gun safety measures consistent with the Second Amendment, and, in fact, what I have proposed is supported by 90 percent of the American people and more than 75 percent of responsible gun owners.

So that is exactly what I think is constitutionally permissible.

And once again, you have Donald Trump just making outright fabrications, accusing me of something that is absolutely untrue. But I’m going to continue to speak out for comprehensive background checks, closing the gun show loopholes, closing the online loophole, closing the so-called Charleston loophole, reversing the bill that Senator Sanders voted for and I voted against, giving immunity from liability to gun makers and sellers. I think all of that can and should be done and it is, in my view, consistent with the “Constitution.”

Stephanopoulos: And the “Heller” decision also does say there can be some restrictions.

But that’s not what I asked.

I said do you believe that their conclusion that an individual’s right to bear arms is a constitutional right?

Clinton: If it is a constitutional right, then it, like every other constitutional right, is subject to reasonable regulation. And what people have done with that decision is to take it as far as they possibly can and reject what has been our history from the very beginning of the republic, where some of the earliest laws that were passed were about firearms. . . .

There were many factual mistakes in Clinton’s discussion.

For a discussion of her claim that 90% support the gun laws she wants see here.

and

On Clintons frequently repeated false statistic that gun violence in America claims the lives of “33,000 people a year.” In 2014, there were 21,334 firearm suicides, 586 accidental gun deaths, and 8,214 gun murders. Clinton gets to the 33,000 number by adding in roughly 3,000 justifiable homicides by police and civilians.

Moreover, 71 percent of these 30,134 deaths are suicides. In light of Clinton’s support for legalizing assisted suicide, it is strange for her not to make a clear distinction between suicides and murders. Research continually shows that banning guns won’t prevent suicides — there are simply too many easy ways to kill oneself. In Japan, which has a suicide rate that is 54 percent higher than the U.S. rate, many people take their lives by stepping in front of trains.

17 Responses

Stephanopoulos needs to look up the definition of “militia” in the US Code. It includes virtually every adult male. In any case, further showing his ignorance, he obviously isn’t working from the premise of the Second Amendment, as it was written: it affirms – not grants, but affirms – the right of We, the People, to remove an oppressive government, by force, if necessary. Hubert H. Humphrey was one of the last folks to actually articulate that fact; modern politicians (and journalists) are either afraid or ignorant, or both.

Ken,
You hit the nail on the head…It is also spelled out in the Third Amendment, I think this is where you are referring to the Right to remove an oppressive government. if the Founding Fathers were to appear today they would have 90% of the members of Congress and the White House arrested for violating our Constitutional Rights.
Hilary will bob and weave her way to make everyone think she is going to do what is right. Then when in power she will wield her will on the rest of us. Remember that she and the Federal Judges live in a different world than the rest of us. They have Secret Service and Federal Marshal’s protecting them…no wonder they do not care if we can defend ourselves. Cannot put myself in a position where I am depending on the government to protect me. Especially an opressive government! We might need to defend ourselves against them.

[…] Clinton twice on whether people have a right to own guns on ABC News’ “This Week”: “But that’s not what I asked. I said do you believe that their conclusion that an individual&…” Clinton could only say: “If it is a constitutional […]

[…] Clinton twice on whether people have a right to own guns on ABC News’ “This Week”: “But that’s not what I asked. I said do you believe that their conclusion that an individual&…” Clinton could only say: “If it is a constitutional […]

[…] Clinton twice on whether people have a right to own guns on ABC News’ “This Week”: “But that’s not what I asked. I said do you believe that their conclusion that an individual&…” Clinton could only say: “If it is a constitutional […]

[…] Clinton twice on whether people have a right to own guns on ABC News’ “This Week”: “But that’s not what I asked. I said do you believe that their conclusion that an individual&…” Clinton could only say: “If it is a constitutional […]

[…] Clinton twice on whether people have a right to own guns on ABC News’ “This Week”: “But that’s not what I asked. I said do you believe that their conclusion that an individual&…” Clinton could only say: “If it is a constitutional […]

[…] Clinton twice on whether people have a right to own guns on ABC News’ “This Week”: “But that’s not what I asked. I said do you believe that their conclusion that an individual&…” Clinton could only say: “If it is a constitutional […]

[…] Clinton twice on whether people have a right to own guns on ABC News’ “This Week”: “But that’s not what I asked. I said do you believe that their conclusion that an individual&…” Clinton could only say: “If it is a constitutional […]

[…] twice on whether people have a right to own guns on ABC News’ “This Week”: “But that’s not what I asked. I said do you believe that their conclusion that an individ…” Clinton could only say: “If it is a constitutional […]

[…] Clinton twice on whether people have a right to own guns on ABC News’ “This Week”: “But that’s not what I asked. I said do you believe that their conclusion that an individual&…” Clinton could only say: “If it is a constitutional […]

[…] Clinton twice on whether people have a right to own guns on ABC News’ “This Week”: “But that’s not what I asked. I said do you believe that their conclusion that an individual&…” Clinton could only say: “If it is a constitutional […]

[…] ABC’s George Stephanopoulos pushed Clinton twice on whether people have a right to own guns. “But that’s not what I asked. I said do you believe that their conclusion that an individual&…” Clinton could only say: “If it is a constitutional right . . . […]